Matt Kinch and Layne Ulmer to be signed?

By Brandon LeBourveau

June 12th, 2001

According to John Dellapina of the New York Daily News, defenseman Matt Kinch and forward Layne Ulmer are both close to signing with the New York Rangers. The signings could be announced as early as today

Matt Kinch is a small, mobile defenseman with solid offensive ability. He played with Pavel Brendl in Calgary of the Western Hockey League, and he would add more depth to our young defense. Although he may not have the ability to play in the NHL, the Rangers would like to develop him in Hartford and hope one day he could wear the Broadway blue. Kinch was drafted in the 5th round in ’99 by the Buffalo Sabres, but failed to come to terms with the team.

As for Layne Ulmer, he has been an offensive force in the WHL for the last couple of years. Over the last 3 seasons, he has scored more goals than anyone else in the WHL, besides Pavel Brendl. Drafted in the 7th round of the ’99 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Ulmer was not signed by the Senators as they felt he would not be a future NHLer.